KNOCK! KNOCK!! KNOCK!!!

It's 5:45pm on a cool evening, Muyi is back from work and quickly goes into the kitchen to get dinner ready, he puts some rice in a pot and sets it to parboil then he goes into his sitting room and puts on the tv, his favourite show was on and he sat to watch for a few minutes, then goes to check the rice and then about ten minutes dinner is ready, he takes a shower and then settles down to eat.
His phone rang at 7:00pm, it was an unknown number so he ignored it, but his phone didn't stop ringing, after about seven calls he decided to pick up.
"Hello"
" No matter what do not open the door" the voice at the other end of the line was sharp and clear.

" who is this? " Muyi asked

The line went dead, he tried making other calls but the network was gone, a chill ran down his spine.

He wanted to leave the house but the voice was in his head, so he stayed back and continued watching TV.

By 9pm he went to bed .

The sound of a knock woke him up, he looked at the time it was 2am, who could be knocking at this time he wondered, he was about to stand up from his bed when he remembered the warning so he sat back. The knocking continued for some minutes before it stopped. Muyi heaved a sigh of relief and went back to sleep. Another knock woke him up again, the time was 3am and this time the knock was sharper than the last , it went on for a while before it stop, Muyi was shivering in the heat of the night, he didn't move from his bed. He reached for his phone and tried to make a call but there was no network.
The knocking continued at 4am and this time the power went out, Muyi was alone in the dark with something knocking violently on his door, he crawled under his bed and started to pray like he has never before.
The knocking went on from minutes to hours, it got sharper and sharper, Muyi almost wet himself in fright he was too scared to move he just  coiled into a ball and endured the urge to end the torture whoever was knocking was putting him through.
The knocks soon sounded like thunder claps ricocheting through out the entire three bedroom flat.
I can't take this knocking anymore Muyi thought, so slowly he stood to open the door but he had to take a weapon first, he went to his utility room, grabbed a crowbar and  wrench, he walked slowly towards the door, his shirt soaked with sweat, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would explode in his chest.
When Muyi got to the living room each knock felt like a blow to his head, he wished he could walk faster but he just shuffled like an old man.
When he was in front of his door the knocking stopped, it was 6:30am, the sun was starting to rise.
Muyi went to his sofa and sank into it, what a night he thought, the network in his phone had come back and the lights returned.
Muyi waited an hour before going out of his house, he wanted to go and ask his neighbours if they heard the Knocking, but the sight that greeted him at the gate was so grotesque he almost fainted.
In a messy pile of human parts were his neighbours all three of them, Nene the Nurse, Timi the pastor and Isaiah the landlord, they were sliced and butchered like meat.
Muyi was still in a state of shock when his phone started ringing it was the same private number with shaky hands he picked and same voice from before said
" Aren't you glad you didn't open the door when I knocked "

ANNABELLE PART 9

Annabelle woke up later, all drowsy and hungover. She threw up severely and I tried to keep a straight face anytime she looked in the mirror, she looked disgusting, I looked disgusting.
She swallowed some pills, microwaved some leftover chicken and chips and she settled on the couch to watch E! News, we didn't say anything to each other for hours.
I was restless, it was almost noon and Deji had not arrived. What if he left me to my fate, after about twenty what ifs ,I had to stop thinking what if Annabelle hears my thoughts .

It was almost evening when the door bell went off, Annabelle let out a curse and went to answer the door.
There at the door looking finely cut and clean was my Deji, I don't think Annabelle recognised him immediately because if she did she didn't show it.
" Can I help you? " she said
Deji looked shocked then he called my name OMOYE
That was when Annabelle recognised him, she was about to shut the door in his face, when I took over
" Deji it's me help me " I said struggling with the door
" shut up bitch " Annabelle took over and tried to shut the door
"Deji don't go help me "
Deji was so confused, he couldn't believe his eyes , he just stood there staring at me display two different personalities
Annabelle and I forgot for control, It was so painful, I felt like I was going to be ripped in two.
" I am not going back to your boring ass life "
" You have had my body for too long now, I am getting my life back "
" I would rather we both die than for you to have control again "
With that Annabelle took control and ran back into the house , she entered a kitchen and grabbed a knife, She was going to slash my wrist, I took control again and dropped the knife, she took control and picked it again.
I forgot hard, Annabelle won't take my life form me the body is mine.
" You are an ingrate chicken neck, you imagined me after you saw your father commit suicide, I took you through it and was there for you, I was your friend, your only friend but what did you do you told your mother and had me cast out "
"Annabelle you made me do terrible things as a child, you almost made me poison my classmate "
" she deserved it,  I made you have fun idiot, it took me years to crawl back into your life and I am not going back, I made sure of it "
Then it dawned on me
" Annabelle you killed my mother "
" I would do anything to keep this body, I deserved to own this body I deserve to be in control"
" You would control me no more Annabelle "
She laughed
" I am serious, get out and never come back "
She wasn't laughing anymore
I closed my eyes and kept saying " Get out and never come back"
" I am not leaving " Annabelle said her voice was stressed but I kept my eyes closed and kept wishing her away.
I heard her scream in my head but I wasn't screaming, she was leaving, I kept saying the words until Annabelle's voice faded from my head.
Then I opened my eyes, Deji was staring at me with his mouth ajar, I ran to the mirror in the kitchen and for the first time in six years , I saw my own reflection.

ANNABELLE 8

Deji "
There was a pause
" Omoye, Jesus Christ, Omoye is it really you "
" Deji yes it's me" I was surprised he still remembered my voice
" I don't have time to explain"
" I looked everywhere for you, you just disappeared "
" I am so sorry "
" Wow I waited five years to hear sorry, you abandoned your mother and siblings , you abandoned me I have asked myself every day what I did wrong "
" you didn't do anything wrong please Deji there is a reasonable explanation, someone held me without my will please come and help me "
" I don't understand"
" some has held me all these years, I just managed to get to the phone, if am caught she would lock up me forever"
Deji was silent for a few seconds
" Where are you ?" his voice was calm too calm
I gave him the address of Annabelle's place
" I will come get you tomorrow "
" Please bring my mother tell her Annabelle took me "
The line was quiet
" Hello Deji "
" Omoye your mother is dead, she was killed by a hit and run driver five years ago "
My heart sank my mother was dead and I didn't even have the chance to tell her good bye, I didn't get the chance to go to her burial.
what am I going to do now, how will I find that Pastor that banished Annabelle before , I felt my tears run down my face before I even knew I was crying ,
" Deji, someone else is controlling me, her name is Annabelle she would soon take over me again please help me "
" Don't worry I will come get you tomorrow, just be alert "
" And one more thing don't call this number when you are coming it's Annabelle's "
" Ditto "
He was taking the news too well am sure he thought I was crazy, he would probably tell me what I wanted to hear and then he would dump me as soon as the call ends.
" Deji please you are my only hope, I know I sound crazy and the you I know would end the call and laugh at me, but please if you are not going to save me say so, so I would know where I stand "
He was silent again
" Send the address again, I would come tomorrow morning trust me "
" Ok, I am waiting for you "
The line went dead, I quickly deleted the number and I went back to my chains.

Annabelle woke up hours later in the club and managed to stagger home, she was so hungover she passed out again on her bed immediately we got home ,I didn't budge I waited patiently for Deji .

ANNABELLE PART 7

" Hey Annabelle dear " I said trying not to let my voice shake
She didn't respond she kept applying her lipstick and smacking her lips.
" Annie you can't ignore me forever you win ok, I was wrong you deserve my body, you obviously rock it better than me "
She smiled but still didn't say a word
" You turned a boring chicken neck into a super model that's a serious accomplishment, like see what I have I won't have been able to get it even if I used my womb for rituals"
She laughed hard and long then staring at me for the first time in five years she said
" Finally, you have come around, it took you long enough "
Then she looked serious again
" I hope you don't think sweet talking me would make me break the chains"
" Naaaaaaah,I just want to be your friend, I have spent enough time in chains to know how to be devoted to you "
She smiled and didn't say anything at first the she looked at me and said. 
" ok chicken neck let me humour you"
For months  I would talk to Annabelle and tell her things she wants to hear.
I would tell her what modelling contract would benefit her the most, what country she should travel to , what guy she should date and what dress made her look more sexy.
She started to be more free with me and the freer she became the more my chains loosened soon enough my wrists could slip through my chains but I stood still in my chains, I had to  execute my plan at the right moment.
" Annabelle let's go clubbing "
" Chicken neck since when are you a party animal? "
" well I have changed, come on let go clubbing and have fun "
She laughed " I love this new chicken neck , she is less boring alright clubbing it is "
She went to get ready  we spent about three hours deciding what to wear and finally decided on a tube black dress with pepper red stilettoes.
The club was repulsive to me but I pretended to like it men kept sniffing around Annabelle like dogs, I urged her to dance, flirt and drink. Annabelle was partying like crazy, twisting and gyrating her body to music, smoking shisha, drinking alcohol I dared her to drink more and smoke more after drinking more shots of tequila than I could count she passed out on the club floor and my chains broke almost immediately  and I was free, I quickly too over my body it had been so long, I felt drowsy and had a banging headache but I needed to move fast. Taking Annabelle's phone and dialled Deji's number praying he hasn't changed it, I had no answers twice, I tried the third time and with a voice heavy with sleep Deji answered.

ANNABELLE PART 6

Annabelle took total control of my body  and she held me down in my own mind with chains , I was literally held in chains I couldn't control anything I was like a figment of an imagination and soon it felt like I was fading from existence , I tried to talk to Annabelle, I begged, cried, negotiated but she ignored me totally, soon I got tired of talking and soon I became totally silent all I did now was sit, watch and feel sorry for myself.
Deji my sweet Deji am sure he has been trying to reach me but he won't be able to,  Annabelle had made sure she had wiped almost everything about me  She had deleted all my social media account , threw my phones away, burnt my clothes, changed my name to Annabelle Philips , the only things she kept where my certificates from school.

I watched helplessly as Annabelle turned my life around, she worked her way into modelling through one of her sugar daddies and boy she was good she brought sass and fire to the runway she started getting bigger and bigger contracts modelling for big agencies secretly I was happy she was modelling somehow she was making herself known and by God's grace my family will find me.

She travelled frequently having vacations and photo shoots in Milan, New York, Tokyo, Dubai. I went for parties with ministers, actors, comedians and the likes, I met new people and made new friends, scratch that Annabelle did all those, she was so popular travelling to have brunch with this and drinks with that, she had stopped her sleeping around with money bags, she now had her own money, she had houses in various locations all over the country and she had about eight boutique also. I saw new places through her eyes or my eyes I don't know again, she was becoming successful, living the fab life being things I would never be even in my imagination.
Then I had an idea , yes the tables have turned Annabelle now controls my body and I am the disembodied voice in her head so I had to act somehow like Annabelle, I have to make her think that I am on her side. She loves fashion, glamour, fame , I need to get comfortable with her so the chains on me will gradually loosen I had to act fast, I have been in chains for five years now, I bet Deji and my family think am dead and the way things are going I would soon be dead.

ANNABELLE PART 5

"Annabelle are you alright my dear" the strange man behind me spoke, *what* he called me Annabelle , oh my God save me, she has killed me Deji won't forgive me.
Mr sugar daddy walked naked towards me still calling my Annabelle  he looked like a dried up prune what was Annabelle thinking , I vomited a little more when I felt a bit better showered , but no amount of bathing could wash away how dirty I felt.
I ignored the naked old thing still asking what was wrong I packed my things and wore the  dress I found as usual it was a skimpy barely-covering-my-parts dress I wanted to die , on my way home in a cab I started to remember all the times my memory had failed  I should have known Annabelle was behind it.

Immediately I got home, I went to the mirror and started yelling like a dog in labour
" Annabelle come out this instance"
No response
" I know you can hear me come out"
No response
" You think you are clever abi, you sat in my body for ten months making me think you were gone but you just still here using my body like a rag, Annabelle come out now or I would called my mother"
The laughter I heard scared me
" Hello Chicken neck long time no talk "
" Stop using my body for trash Annabelle " I was fuming with rage
" I am just trying to have fun, unlike you chicken neck "
" that's it I am calling my mother"
As I tried to move my head hit glass.
I looked up Annabelle was opposite me with a triumphant grin, she walked toward my bed laid on it and was soon snoring softly. I tried to scream but no words left my mouth.

ANNABELLE PART 4

I found my ring at the lost and found, the woman holding it gave me ugly stares, apparently in camp some married women would take off their rings so they can have flings with strange guys they meet in camp and from the way things looked I wasn't  different either.

I didn't see Annabelle for a long time after that day, I called for her but she didn't answer.

I was posted to a coca cola company in Ring Road, Akinyemi, Ibadan. I was to work with the Engineering department .

Four months into my primary assignments I started having serious issues, all this time I haven’t seen Annabelle, I probably bored her away or so I thought.
I started having memory troubles I couldn't account for things,places time and money spent anymore, it was worse on weekends, sometimes I would get calls from work asking me why I hadn't come to work for days, it was weird because the last memory I had was me in work the previous day.

It only got worse!! I started waking up in clubs and hotel rooms, sometimes with clothes I would never wear if I had half a brain, sometimes my purse would be empty and other times it would be filled with wads of cash.
I was getting scared, I would try to call my mom but I kept forgetting.

I would lock myself up in my room and still find myself in a club in the pool of my own vomit and alcohol, wearing pieces of clothes.
The straw that broke the camel's back was the day I woke up in a white room, I was naked and the person next to me who was also naked was old enough to be my grandfather, immediately I stood up ran to the bathroom and threw up.

ANNABELLE PART 3

Life with Annabelle was getting more complex and more exciting, even Deji noticed the change in me but he never asked maybe he guessed it was because I had graduated from school and all that or maybe he just liked the change
Annabelle and I always quarrelled about Deji, she said he was a broke ass Nigga , had no swag, no ride. She said I needed a guy who could spend the dough I hated the way she talked about Deji , sometimes I would be so angry I would threaten to tell my mum about her, she would pout and tell me that she is just joking that  I shouldn't vex , She was just like that friend you know has a bad influence on you, profits you nothing but yet you can't stop being her friend , she was stuck on me like glue.
" Omoye if I had a body I would tell you to shoot me in the head, you are killing with boredom joor" she said pretending to swoon
" Well I like a calm life "
" You mean you like a boring life " she snorted
" Let's go clubbing for once now, I am sick and tired of staying in this room with you and your boring gist, I want to get high " she pleaded
" If you want to go and go by yourself"
" Boring chicken neck "
" you better stop calling me that"
She made an annoying clucking sound with her tongue and backed me , I felt like smashing the mirror.

Months later, Deji got a job as a sous-chef for an oil offshore company, he was to be paid four hundred thousand naira a month, I was so happy  when I told Annabelle the news she just snorted saying some men could give me four hundred thousand naira in a day, I ignored her as usual, she was supposed to help me but I just couldn't see the help she was giving she was just trying to make me wild and I didn't want that but I had promised I won't get rid of her plus sometimes she was entertaining when she wasn't annoying.

Three months after Deji left, I received my call up letter and I was posted to Oyo state, Annabelle made a shoot-me-now-face every day, she kept urging me to pay some money and get posted somewhere more groovy after all Deji now gives me about a eighty thousand a month but I was going to Oyo whether she liked it or not.
A week to the day I was to travel to Oyo, Deji came to visit, we went shopping for things I needed for camp, we also went shopping for clothes and shoes. In a classy restaurant he proposed to me with a really cute ring just the way I wanted it silver and simple, I thought I would go mad with joy, it was the best week of my life.

Nysc camp wasn't so bad, In fact I kinda enjoyed everything about it except the hot sun, Annabelle kept nagging me saying my shorts were not shorts, she kept calling them deeper life shorts or British man pantaloons as usual I ignored her but not for long, I didn't have to look in the mirror to talk to Annabelle anymore, I started to see her in my head like we would be having conversations in my head, she became like a shadow always with me. 
It was weird, I would be walking on the road having a conversation with her and no one can see who am talking to when I get caught talking to Annabelle people would give me weird stares, I had to start walking around with an earpiece so it would look like I was on a call , I had to sometimes it gets really hard to ignore Annabelle.  With time it  got weirder, on the last day of camp there was a huge party I didn't want to go for and Annabelle almost cried on my neck she begged me for days but I told her *NO* I didn't like parties.
I don't remember what happened next I just remember waking  up with a banging headache , it felt like the entire room was spinning,  my mouth tasted like alcohol, my body felt like it was bitten by a thousand fire ants and my corper whites had grass stains and vomit , I tried to move but the headache just got worse,I called for Annabelle but she didn't answer it was as if she was asleep or something , I looked at my phone messages  and a strange number had texted me

*Thanks for last night I had a great time, love Nkechi*

Who the hell was Nkechi ???

Trying to make sense of what had happened, I tried to stand up from my bed and out of habit  I looked at my left hand, my engagement ring was gone , I felt my heart drop to the pit of my stomach

ANNABELLE PART 2

I don't know how long I was down but when I stood up, I was convinced my mind was playing tricks on me. I stood up and looked at the mirror, my reflection stood straight and tall with her hands akimbo still with a frown
" you have always been a whimp, I swear " She said

I was still staring like a man seeing fire for the first time slowly I regained myself, she was really there in the mirror staring at me.
" Annabelle what the hell, how did you...."
" Come back, fash that one, wetin dey sup, you look horrible "
"I don't look horrible" my own reply shocked me
" You do joor don't tell me it's with that powder and lip gloss, you are going to class "
She said rolling her eyes
" Hello chicken neck stop gawking at me , just look at your untoush sef,  for why, I am so glad I came back, you need help "
" I don't need help " my voice was shaky
I have to go am late for class"
" Ok oh, sha sha make your hair, what kinda hair is that one, better relax it "
I didn't talk, I walked out of the room shaking like a banana leaf  ,why is she back ? why today of all days? when my final exam was this morning  and I was too shaken to take a bus It felt like I had forgotten everything I had studied, Annabelle's return had clouded my mind.

Lucky for me the exam was a breeze somehow seeing the questions opened my brain and I wrote well, I totally even forgot about Annabelle. When the exam was over I couldn't wait to call Deji and my Mum. I took out my phone to call mum but the beautiful yet annoying voice reminded me that I didn't have sufficient credit to make a call. I opened my bag to get my wallet but I probably left it on my bed, I wanted to borrow from the network but I hate paying for debts, so I decided to go home and get my wallet. 

I got home and Annabelle was there in the mirror waiting for me, oh my gosh I totally forgot Annabelle was back
" congrats girl, how will you celebrate? "
I did say anything I just picked my wallet and started to leave the room
" Chicken Neck where are you going to now? She said with a voice so stern I almost peed myself
" I am going to buy credit to call mum and Deji " my voice was still shaky
" Ehen before I forget, Omoye please don't  tell anyone I exist I beg you trust me, Let me be your secret, are you hearing me? "
" I must tell Deji, I tell him everything "
" Don't be a mumu Chicken neck, tell anyone about it and they would lock you up in a psychiatric home, don't tell your mum especially, I am not here to hurt you, I am your friend remember the fun we used to have "
I looked at Annabelle for the first time, she looked just like me only more bold,sassy,boisterous, fiery, sassy and sassy ,there was something hot about her eyes .
I agreed to keep the secret and I didn't know it then but it was the greatest mistake I had made.